Biopic about B.B. King being developed by Canton Entertainment, Vassal Benford & The B.B. King Music Company

Canton Entertainment, led by Mark and Dorothy Canton, is joining forces with Vassal Benford and The B.B. King Music Company & Estate to produce Lucille, the officially authorized feature film exploring the life, music, and enduring legacy of blues legend B.B. King and his iconic Gibson guitar, Lucille.

Vassal Benford, a Grammy-winning producer and Chairman of The B.B. King Music Company & Estate, who recently played a key role in the $600 million Kings Crossing bridge dedication honoring B.B. King, Elvis Presley, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will serve as producer representing Kings estate. Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Macedon, showrunners of Starzs upcoming boxing series Fightland, will executive produce via their Written Blvd. banner. Additional executive producers include Exemplar Media, Worldwide Entertainment, and Stokes Entertainment. Karley Ferlic, Canton Entertainments Director of Development, will co-produce.

The film will trace B.B. Kings journey from the cotton fields of Mississippi to global stardom, spotlighting his collaborations with Eric Clapton, U2, The Rolling Stones, Richie Sambora, Carlos Santana, and other music icons, highlighting his pivotal role in popularizing the blues worldwide. Central to the story is Kings deep connection with Lucille, the Gibson guitar named after a woman linked to a life-threatening incident, which became his creative muse and lifelong musical companion.

Mark Canton shared, Ive worked on transformative, music-driven films before, but B.B. Kings story of resilience and artistry is unmatched. Its an honor to help bring it to life. Dorothy Canton added, Lucille goes beyond a biopic its a celebration of hope and the power of music, honoring the extraordinary bond between B.B. King and his guitar. Benford emphasized, In 2014, I promised Mr. King we would tell his story truthfully and with the care he gave to Lucille. That promise is now becoming a major motion picture with the team weve assembled.

Canton Entertainment is known for projects such as Red Sonja, Lionsgates horror trilogy The Strangers, and Luc Bessons Dracula: The Love Tale. The company is also producing the KISS biopic Shout It Out Loud. Benfords career spans producing over 70 platinum records, generating hundreds of millions in sales, and collaborating with stars like Jennifer Lopez, Michael Bubl, Justin Bieber, Toni Braxton, and Mariah Carey. His executive credits include roles at Motown Records and Arista Records, where he signed Deborah Cox, as well as producing the After film series, which grossed over $300 million and topped Netflix charts.

Author: Chloe Ramirez